Israeli Military Extends Death Penalty Law to West Bank Palestinians

The commander of the Israel Defense Forces’ Central Command signed an order on Sunday applying the new death penalty for terrorists law in the West Bank. The order extends the measure to Palestinians convicted of committing an act with the aim of denying the existence of the State of Israel.

Background on the Legislation The Knesset passed the controversial bill in March for Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis in acts of terror. The legislation refrained from imposing the same penalty on Jewish Israelis convicted of killing Palestinians.

Legal and security officials warned against applying the legislation in the West Bank, as Palestinians there are not Israeli citizens. The law was drafted in a way that targets Arabs and is expected to apply only to Palestinians.

Israeli media reported the extension of the law to the occupied West Bank. The measure follows earlier concerns from legal officials about extending Israeli civilian legislation to the territory. >"The Israeli military’s Central Command chief Avi Bluth has signed an order extending Israel’s death penalty law to Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, reports Haaretz." — Al Jazeera, May 17, 2026